Hot Chili Chicken

Here is yet another favorite hot dish of mine - chili chicken. This is not the usual Chinese style chili chicken, this kind of chili chicken is available at all the Andra style restaurant in Bangalore and they use the whole green chilies to make this dish “really spicy” and they used to be pleasantly spicy for me and I still have not found something else very tasty and that also made my eyes water like this. Suddenly I just started craving for this dish and I prepared myself remembering the taste and I would say I could nearly match more than 75% of the original taste and just enough to satisfy my lingering craving. I used the chicken for the chicken curry and really tasted good but still you can marinate the chicken and use for this recipe. Here is the recipe,

Ingredients
To marinate
Chicken – ½ lb
Yogurt – 2 tsp
Ginger Garlic paste – ½ tsp
Chili powder – ½ tsp
Turmeric Powder – ½ tsp
Salt – little

Other Ingredients
Green Chilies slit – 10 to 13 (depending on your need)
Onion – ½ of 1 Chopped very finely
Tomato – 1 finely chopped
Coriander Powder – 1 and ½ tsp
Garam masala – 1tsp
Cardamom Powder – ¼ tsp
Oil – 3 tsp
Salt to taste

To Grind
Garlic – 6 Cloves
Ginger – ¾ inch
Cilantro – ½ Cup

Method
Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hr.
Heat oil in a non-stick pan and add the onion and sauté for 5 mins or until its tender.
Add the tomato and fry for few mins and add the grinded paste and mix. Add the coriander powder and mix.
Add the green chilies and mix. Now add the chicken and sprinkle little water and close and cook for 5 mins, checking in between to avoid burning.
Now open and reduced the flame and cook by mixing occasionally until the chicken is fully cooked and the dish is dry without any water.
Garnish with cilantro and enjoy as a side dish for any kind of rice.

Minced Chicken Wrap

Sorry I took a long break in updating my blog and I have a reason for that, I was on vacation to Disney world with family and after that kids were sick one after another and I was totally immobilized and stuck with my kids and at last I made myself some time to sit and update my blog.
This delicious minced chicken is wrap is great for a snack or even as a meal itself and more over its very ideal during traveling time. I made this dish for a brunch and it is very stomach filling and kept me hunger free for a long time after having just two warps and it is also quite simple to prepare. Here is the recipe of the delicious minced chicken wrap.

Ingredients
For the Filling
Minced Chicken – 1lb
Onion – 1 very finely chopped
Tomato – 2 very finely chopped
Garlic – 5 very finely chopped
Ginger – ½” finely chopped
Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 1 tsp
Cumin powder – 1tsp
Chili Powder – ½ tsp
Garam masala – ½ tsp
Fennel seeds – ½ tsp
Egg - 1
Cilantro chopped
Salt to taste
Oil – 3 tsp

For the Tortillas
Wheat flour – 1Cup
All Purpose flour – 1 Cup
Shortening – 1 tsp (optional, even you can use oil)
Salt to taste
Water - 1 Cup

Method
For the Filling
Heat oil in a non-stick pan and add the fennel seeds and when they crackle, add the onion and garlic and ginger and sauté until the onion turns light brown and add the ginger garlic paste and mix well for couple of mins.
Add the tomato and cook until the tomato turns mushy and add all the dry powders one after another and mix.
Add the minced chicken and mix and close and cook until chicken is cooked and it should be very dry. Beat egg in a bowl and add to the chicken mixture and cook till its done.
Garnish with cilantro.
For the Tortillas
Mix all the ingredients under “for the tortillas” and set aside for a minimum 15 mins and make into medium ball size and roll it quite big(little bigger than chapatti) and cook in a heated griddle on both side with little oil. This will yield six tortillas. By adding the shortening makes the tortillas very soft.
Spread mayo on the tortilla, add the filling in the middle and top it with onions and cilantro and roll it and enjoy the warp.

Chettinad Chicken Curry

I am very obsessed with the word “chettinad”, to me they are very tasty and really spicy to eat and they are the best. Any restaurant or any food with a chettinad tag to it drives my attention and every one can guess I gonna order only that. I lived in Chennai for a very short period of only six months and within that short time I had visited almost all of the chettinad restaurant there. Not just visiting restaurant, if anyone says I have the authentic chettinad recipes I waste no time to take the recipe from them. This recipe I got it from internet long time ago that’s before I started blogging and during my transit from Illinois to North Carolina I misplaced it, though I have prepared this recipe many times, its always difficult for me to remember all the ingredients and more over the method of cooking is what adds the taste to it and I also have no idea from which site I got this recipe, so didn’t get a chance to prepare it until now during these holidays while cleaning my old crap I got this recipe back and I was so much delighted and prepared it the following Sunday and relished it so much. I actually made for breakfast, as a side dish for idli and every one loved it, especially my boy who always prefers dosa for idli, loved idli with this chicken curry.

Ingredients
Whole cut chicken – 1lb
Pearl onion/sambar onion – 15
Tomato – 2 chopped
Garlic – 10 cloves
Green Chilies – 2 slit
Ginger Garlic paste – 2 tsp
Cilantro to garnish
Oil – 4 tsp
Salt to taste
To marinate
Yogurt – 2tsp
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
Coriander powder – 2-½ tsp
Chili powder – 1tsp (use to your taste)
Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
Salt
To Grind
Coconut – 3 tsp
Poppy seeds – 2 tsp
Fennel seeds – 1tsp
Seasoning
Cloves – 5
Cinnamon – 1inch
Cardamom – 2
Fennel seeds – 1tsp
Pepper Corns – 1tsp
Curry leaves - 5

Method
Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients under 'to marinate' and set aside for minimum half an hour.
Dry roast poppy seeds and soak in hot water for 5 mins and grind with coconut and fennel seeds.
In a big pan, heat oil and add all the ingredients under 'seasoning', one by one and when its aromatic add onion, garlic and green chilies and sauté for 5 mins and add the tomato and fry till tomato is soft and mushy.
Now add the ginger garlic paste and mix well and add the marinated chicken and mix and add little water or as much water depending on the consistency to need and cook closed until the chicken is cooked well.
Add the coconut paste and cook for just 5 mins and garnish with lots of cilantro.
Enjoy it with rice.

Chicken Malai Kabab

I am back from my holidays, had a wonderful vacation at Myrtle Beach so still not able to come over from that mood. This recipe was lying in my draft for quite a long time and since I didn’t prepare anything new to post, I am taking this opportunity to post my old recipe. I prepared this dish on my hubby’s office grill out get together, where most of them were American and I made it less spicy and more cheesier to suit them and surprisingly this dish turned out to a huge hit among them, so if have any American family coming over your house sure this dish is gonna make them drool. This recipe is taken from the vahrehvah website and I am sure many would be familiar with this recipe but still I am posting for those who haven’t tried. Here is the recipe ..

Ingredients
Boneless Chicken Breast – 1lb Cut to a desired size cubes
Mozzarella Cheese – 1 Cup
Cream – 3 tsp
Ginger Garlic Paste – 2tsp
Meat Tenderizer – 2 tsp (optional)
Cardamom powder – 1tsp
Pepper and salt to taste
Green Chilies – 3
Cilantro – ½ cup
Wooden Skewer – 3 (soak in water for min 30mins)

Method
Pat dry the chicken with a kitchen towel and cut to cubes and marinate with ginger garlic paste, meat tenderizer, salt, pepper and cardamom powder and keep refrigerated for 1 hour.
Grind green chilies and cilantro to a coarse paste and mix with the chicken.
Mix cheese and cream and add the chicken and marinate for 2 hrs.
Pre heat oven to 400*F
Put the chicken in the skewer and place in a oven safe bowl and place it the oven for 10 mins on both the side and now turn the oven to broil mode and cook till the chicken turns brown on both the sides. Serve with some mint chutney and Enjoy!!!

I got a award from Ashkuku and thanks dear for passing on to me ....

Spicy Orange Chicken

Everyone who lives in America should be familiar with this Chinese-American orange chicken commonly found at Chinese fast food restaurants. What makes this dish so special is the combination of orange flavor and the sweetness. I choose to make this orange chicken in my kitchen for its flavor but I made it more spicy with little sweetness  and this is the Indo-Chinese-American version  of orange chicken. For the orange flavor I replaced orange peel (zest) for orange juice just for no reason and I felt juice is better than zest and if you wish, you could very well use the orange peel and remember that you have to soak the zest in water for half an hour before using it. The both spiciness and sweetness made this dish really awesome so please don’t consider adding sugar or brown sugar as optional, I would say it is the secret ingredient which adds more flavor and taste to the dish.

Ingredient
For marinating
Boneless Chicken – 1lb
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
Soy sauce – 1tsp
Vinegar – 1tsp
Cornstarch – 1 tsp
Salt and pepper to taste

Other Ingredients
Carrot and Bell pepper – 1 cup
Onion – ½ of one chopped
Ginger Chopped – 1 tsp
Garlic Chopped – 2tsp
Orange juice – 1/3 Cup
Ketchup – 1tsp
Chili Garlic sauce – 2 tsp (add according to your taste)
Brown Sugar to taste
Soy Sauce – 2 tsp
Vinegar – 1tsp
Cornstarch – 1tsp mix with water
Salt and pepper to taste
Oil - 2 tsp
Oil to deep fry the chicken

Method
Marinate the chicken with the ingredients under 'for marinating' and keep refrigerated for minimum 1 hr and deep fry in oil and transfer to the kitchen towel to drain the excess oil.
Heat oil in a non-stick pan or wok and garlic and ginger and fry till aromatic and add onion and all the veggies and fry for few mins and add the orange juice with little water and add the chili garlic sauce and soy sauce and salt and pepper and cook for 5 mins. Add the brown sugar and ketchup and mix and add the chicken pieces and cook if you want the gravy to be thick add the cornstarch water or just to your desired consistency. Enjoy with white rice or fried rice.

Note: Increase or decrease the amount brown sugar depending on the sweetness you need.

Crispy Oven fried Chicken

Every one like crispy and fried chicken but this crispy oven fried chicken is delicious and much healthier version than the traditional deep-fried one. This heart healthy fried chicken is quite easy to prepare and tastes better and kids would love to eat and we can too eat as many with guilt free. This dish takes absolutely no oil other than the non-stick cooking spray I sprayed over the chicken. Since this is the healthier version I even removed the skin, which contains more fat, and still it will be crispy and fabulous. You can use any part of the chicken you like and I used chicken drumstick, that’s my boy’s favorite. This chicken would be crispy outside and juicy inside.

Ingredients
Chicken drumstick – 4
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
Chili powder – 1 and 1/2 tsp
Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Honey – 1 tsp
Panko Japanese style breadcrumbs – 1 cup
Egg – 1
All purpose flour – 2 tsp
Parmesan cheese – 2 tsp (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Non-stick cooking spray

Method
Remove the skin from the chicken and soak in a bowl of water adding ½ tsp of chili powder, salt and lemon juice and refrigerate for at least minimum 3 hrs.
Preheat oven to 350*F
In a bowl beat egg and mix with it ginger garlic paste, ½ tsp chili powder, flour, honey and salt.
In a plate mix the panko breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese and ½ tsp of chili powder.
Drop the chicken in the egg mix and coat well and dip in the breadcrumbs and evenly coat the chicken with it and place in a cookie sheet after spraying the non-stick spray.
Repeat this for all the chicken pieces and spray the cooking spray on the chicken and cook in the oven for 40 mins. Enjoy the healthier crispy oven fired chicken.

Chettinad Pepper Chicken

No introduction is needed for chettinad cuisine as it is a widely popular for its well-known spicy taste and you can get thousands of hits when you google for this dish and its always difficult to find the correct authentic way of preparing this chettinad dishes unless someone from that region tells us what the exact recipe is and this dish is one such recipe passed on to me by my friend and very special thanks to her.
Chettinad dishes are incomplete without garlic and pepper and in this dish pepper being the main ingredient, there is no need to mention the fiery taste is what that makes dish more special and simply very delicious. Always use the freshly grounded pepper for this dish to get the original wonderful flavor.

Ingredient
Chicken – 1 lb
Onion - 1 chopped finely
Tomato – 2 medium chopped
Curry Leaves – 10
Coriander Powder – 2 tsp
Chili Powder – 1 tsp
Pepper Powder – 3 tsp (freshly crushed)
Cumin Powder – 1tsp
Garlic – 3 cloves chopped
Ginger Garlic paste – 2 tsp
Whole garam masala – cloves – 3, cinnamon – 1”, cardamom – 2
Salt to taste
Oil – 4tsp

Method
Heat oil in a pan and add the whole garam masala and when you get the good fragrance from it add the garlic and onion and sauté for few mins and add the ginger garlic paste and mix well and add chopped tomato and fry till the oil separates from it and add the curry leaves and all the dry masalas and add the chicken and add some water and close and cook for 10 mins, stirring in between and if needed splash little water to avoid burning. When removing from stove, add a addition half tsp of pepper powder and mix and add the chopped cilantro. This dish goes very well with sambar rice, or plain curd rice and enjoy!!!

Chicken Sandwich - A Hubby Way

Though I have passion for cooking and I strongly believe that we can share the love of life through cooking as it feeds the soul, both who cooks and also who eats. But sometime I feel bored and frustrated of the same cooking which I love to do for all day and I want someone to cook for me and I eat. If I was in India I can go around to relatives house or just say at mothers house for 10 days and I get to sit and do only eating, I feel it would be a kind of refreshment but unfortunately or fortunately I am living here in US that makes me eligible to cook for all 365 days. Sometimes my hubby understands my feelings and he insists on cooking for me, though he doesn't know how to cook but his intension is what I appreciate and this chicken sandwich is one such dish he prepared for me and this was a excellent chicken sandwich I would have tasted. He got this recipe from some cook book and it was very tasty and I wish he cooks more often like this me...ha ha....I know next time he would purposely gonna spoil it....

Ingredinets
Boneless Chicken Breast halves - 2
All Purpose Flour - 3 tbsp
Salt and Pepper to taste
Mushroom Chopped - 1/2 Cup
French Onion Soup - 1 tin
Sandwich Bun - 2
Cheese Singles - 2
Garlic Chopped - 1tsp
Olive Oil - 3 tsp


Method
Mix salt and pepper to the flour and coat the chicken with the flour on both the side and fry in a pan with 2 tsp of oil until its cooked and nice brown on both sides and set aside.
In the same pan, add garlic and fry for few secs and add chopped mushroom and cook until its soft and add the french onion soup and allow to boil.
Now add the cooked chicken and make sure chicken is well coated with the soup.
Roast the bun in a skillet or in oven until its crisp.
Place the cheese slice on the bun and place the chicken on it and top it with mushroom and chose the bun and enjoy the wonderful sandwich.

Spicy Chicken Roll

This is a wonderful chicken snack very ideal during traveling as it is easy to eat without any mess. This dish is very famous in Bangalore and they use to make it with kebabs and that tastes really excellent and I am a great fan of this chicken roll and this is a short cut way to prepare it quickly without making the kebabs and the taste is also similar except for the smokey flavour. This one is made with chicken and this can also be done the same way with potato but the taste is excellent only with chicken and a must try dish.

  

Ingredients

For Marinade

Boneless Chicken pieces - 1/2 lb cut to small bite size pieces

Chicken 65 masala powder - 3 tsp

Ginger garlic Paste - 1 tsp

Yogurt - 3 tsp

Other Ingredient
Chapati - 5
Bell pepper / Capsicum - 1 medium( long slices)
Cabbage Chopped - 1 cup 
Onion - 1 medium sliced lengthwise
Salt and pepper to taste
oil - 3 tsp
Ketchup or ranch

Method
Marinate the chicken with the ingredients under mariande and keep refrigrated for 2 hrs.
In a non-stick pan, heat oil and shallow fry the chicken until cooked and roasted and keep aside. In the same pan fry peppers and capsicum with salt and pepper until half cooked, this gives a nice crunchiness to the roll.
Heat chapati before stuffing and put the chicken pieces in the center and top it with capsicum and cabbage with some raw onion and put some ketchup or ranch or mayonnaise of your choice o top and roll it up and eat it. Great snack.

Chicken N Spinach Stuffed Jumbo Shell Pasta

When I saw the jumbo shell in the grocery store, this recipe just popped instantly in my mind at that moment and here is this dish. Pasta is my family favorite and there is no problem for everyone in just falling in love with yet another pasta dish and this recipe is a success. This is such a stomach-filling dish, you will feel already full with just eating only five shells. This is such an awesome and tasty dish where kids would never say no to this kind of cheesy dish. Just try this recipe and you would know for yourself.

Ingredients
Jumbo Shell Pasta - 15
Boneless Chicken Breast - 2 halves
Mushroom Chopped - 1cup
Spinach - 1 cup Chopped
Garlic - 4 Cloves minced
Parmesan Cheese - 1/2 cup
Mozzarella Cheese - 1 cup
Cream of Mushroom Soup - 1 can
Heavy Whip Cream - 1/2 cup
Oil - 3 tsp
Butter - 2tsp
Breadcrumps - 1/2 cup
Pepper and Salt as required

Method
Boil the pasta shell according to the instruction in the box and drain the water and place individually in a plate to avoid sticking to each other.
Coat the chicken piece with the breadcrumbs and fry in the oil in a non-stick skillet with little salt and pepper on both sides until it turns brown color. Remove and cut the chicken to small cubes.
In the same skillet, add 1 tsp of minced garlic and saute it and add mushroom with salt and pepper and add the spinach and cook until it's done. Add half the can of mushroom soup with a splash of water. Add the chicken pieces and mix well.
Now we have to make a sauce in a separate pan by heating the butter and adding garlic and saute them, add the remaining soup with little water, add salt and pepper. Last add the cream and parmesan cheese, if needed add dried parsley and basil and now sauce is ready.
Pre-heat oven to 375* F
Stuff the chicken and spinach in the shell and place in the oven safe bowl and pour the sauce on top of the shell and cover it with the mozzarella cheese and bake for 20 mins.
Serve hot!! Enjoy!!

Hot Buffalo Wings

When I first heard the name it sounded very weird to me, then I learnt the it was named after the their city of origin Buffalo, New york. This is usually made with the chicken wings coated with a spicy hot pepper sauce  but in some places they make it as boneless too. They usually have a heat index for this dish from very low to extreme heat, I havn't tasted the neither extreme nor the low heat ones, the medium ones really tastes good. Now Pizza hut is also serving this wings ..yet to taste. They are delicious, easy recipe and very tasty appetizer and are great when you get a hankering for something hot and unable to decide, try this Hot Buffalo Wings. This is usually served with celery so did I.  

Ingredients
Chicken Wings - 10 to 12
Butter - 3 tsp
Paprika - 2 tsp
Cayenne pepper - 1tsp
Franks Red Hot Sauce - 4 tsp
Salt as required

Method
Cut off the wing tips and Cut wings at the joint.
Create a marinade by mixing together the melted butter and all other ingredients. 
Take 2 tsp of this marinade and mix with the wings in a zip loc cover and keep refrigerated for 2 hrs. 
Place the chicken in a oven safe plate and broil in medium temp in the oven for 15 mins on each side. 
Remove from oven and baste with the remaining sauce. Serve with blue cheese or ranch and celery.

Chicken and Mushroom Curry

After the success of egg and mushroom curry, I made this another great dish using mushroom and chicken and undoubtedly even this was also great. In this dish mushroom didn't do any magic, there was not much of any difference in the taste by adding it other than getting the mushroom pieces in between the chicken in your each mouth, which I liked. Mushroom works very well with any combination, no complaints so far from my family. This dish can be prepared using only chicken. This goes well with rice and may be with chapathi too.

Ingredients
Chicken boneless thigh - 1/2 lb
Mushroom Chopped - 2 Cups
Onion - 1 chunks
Garlic - 6 cloves
Ginger - 1"
Clove - 4
Cinnamon - 1"
Tomato - 3 Chopped
Coriander Powder - 2tsp
Cumin Powder - 1tsp
Chili Powder - 1tsp
Tuemeric Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt as required
Oil - 3tsp

Method
Blend together onion, garlic, ginger, cloves and cinnamon to a fine paste.
Heat oil in a pan, add the onion paste and stir for few mins.
Add all the powders and mix well.
Add tomato and cook closed in a reduced flame for 10 mins.
Add the chicken and cook for 10 more mins and add the mushroom and cook for 30 mins in low flame and stir inbetween. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice. Enjoy!!

Birthday Lunch Special - Chole Bhatura and Jalapeno Chicken

One great thing about my hubby is he never insists on what cook, and whatever and however I cook he appreciates it. Sometimes this makes me  annoyed when I run out of ideas and I dont get any help on it from him. Its always easy for me to cook rather than deciding what to cook.
Unlike me he does not have too many favorites in food, and anything I cook he used to enjoy as if he is eating for the first time but whenever we go to vegetarian restaurant most of the time he orders chole bhatura and in non-veg buffet, I have seen him  hogging a plate full of chicken 65 couple of times so I concluded those two should be his favorite and I decided  to prepare chole bhatura and chicken 65  for lunch on his birthday. I thought to do some variation in these dishes  and I added jalapeno to chicken guessing it would give a nice spicy kick to the chicken  and for chole bhatura I retained the same, nothing to modify in it. I hope as usual he enjoyed this special dish I made for him with love. In my previous post he left few comments in the name VJ and I felt little encouraging and I hope he does same for this too and  waiting for it. 

Bhatura

This tasted really good and loved it, only disappointment is it never came fully puffed up, mistake may be I kneaded the dough too soft and after resting for 3 hrs it became more soft, so make sure you dont do the same mistake.  

Ingredients
All Purpose flour/maida - 2 cups
Sugar - 1tsp
Yogurt - 1/2 cup
Baking Powder - 1tsp

Salt to taste 

Water as needed
Oil to fry

Method
Combine all the ingredients  in a bowl and knead the dough with enogh water and make it to a  soft dough(not too soft) and rest this dough coved for 2 to 3 hrs and this gonna make even  more soft.

After 2 to 3 hrs, take a small ball of dough and roll them. Heat oil in a pan and fry them in hot oil.  Serve with chole.

Simple Chole 

I call it as simple chole b'coz I never grinded any masalas and also did not use any store bought chole masala, I made it my own way and it tasted good.

Ingredients

Chole/chick peas - 2 cups 
Onion - 1/2 of a onion chopped
Tomato - 1 chopped

Ginger chopped - 1 tsp

Cumin seeds - 1tsp

Coriander Powder - 2tsp

Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Cumin Powder - 1 tsp

Amchur Powder - 1 tsp

Kasoori methi - 1 tsp

Garam masala - 1 tsp 

Salt to taste

Oil - 2tsp

Method

Soak chick peas overnight and pressure cook them and set aside or simple use canned like I did.

In a skillet heat and when it heats up add the cumin seed and when it splutter add onion and ginger and saute for few mins and add tomato and cook till is fully cooked and juicy and start adding all the powders one by one and mix and if needed add water to avoid burning of the powders. Add the boiled or canned chickpeas and add some water and cook until it reaches a thick consistency. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with bhatura.

Jalapeno Chicken

This one stole the show, I saved some without adding the jalapenos for my kids and they really enjoyed it.

Ingredients

Boneless chicken - 1 lb cut into a bite size piece

Lemon juice - 1tsp

yogurt - 3 tsp

Ginger Garlic paste - 1 tsp

Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder - 1tsp

Garam Masala - 1 tsp

Corn Flour - 2tsp

Red food color

Soy sauce - 1 tsp

Jalapeno - 3 chopped to small pieces
Curry leaves - 10

Salt to taste

Oil to fry

Method

In a bowl marinate chicken with all ingredients expect jalapeno, curry leaves and soy sauce and let rest for 1 hr. Heat oil in a pan and deep fry the curry leaves and keep aside and fry the marinated chicken in the same oil and transfer to a kitchen towel to drain the excess oil. In a other pan, heat 1tsp of oil and fry the jalapeno with salt and little lemon juice till pepper is soft and before removing from the stove add the soy sauce and mix chicken to it and transfer to a serving plate and put the fried curry leaves on the top and serve with some onions.

Cilantro Chicken

Although coimbatore is my home town, I adore Bangalore more, reason may be I started my Bangalore life in college and got a lot of chance to explore Bangalore more with friends which I consider a pleasant memories to cherish.

Intailly when we  moved to Bangalore, my brother's office colleague Laksmi aunty's family  helped  us a lot.  I would say I got introduced to everything in Bangalore through them. She was such a lovely person and  I used to admire her a lot for what she was-a working woman, best cook and in free time she used to do lots of craft work and not to forget she had 2 small girls and a husband to care for and  that makes me  wonder how she could perfectly balance everything. She is my inspiration for lot of things . Her lovely girls, vanitha and anusha were my kannada tutors, they used to listern patiently to the worst kannada I speak and they have also corrected me which helped me to speak better. We had a wonderful time together with lots of family get togethers, trips and many more. All of a sudden there is been no contact between our two families for almost 10 yrs now, I have no idea what had happened in between and I feel that is an immature act.  I never got a chance to tell her that how much I admired her and she is my first inspiration for cooking and I actually owe her family a lot.
Today post the cilantro chicken , is the only simple chicken recipe I learnt from her and still is one of the  best chicken recipe for me. Unfortunately I did not get an opportunity to learn more of her mouth watering recipes.

I am writing this in my blog hopping one day accidentally she may read it. 
  

Ingredients:

whole cut Chicken - 1 lb

Onion - 1 chopped

Garlic - 5 cloves

Ginger - 1"

Cinnamon - 3/4" stick

Cloves - 4 

Cilantro - 1/2 bunch 

Black Pepper - 1tsp

Green Chilies - 3 

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Oil - 3 tsp
Salt to taste

Method
In a pan heat oil and when it heats up add onion and saute for few mins and add chicken and add turmeric powder, coriander powder and cook for 10 mins. In the mean time grind together garlic, ginger, chilies, pepper, cloves, cinnamon and cilantro to a fine paste. Now add this grinded paste to the chicken and cook untill the raw fragrance is gone and you get a nice gravy consistency. Serve with jeera rice or any pulao or even plain rice it would taste good. 

Creamy Dreamy Chicken Sauce on Angle Hair

This was a huge hit in my house, even my choosy boy liked it. He actually asked me to save some for next day so you can guess how hit was this dish. This is a  calorie rich food  so if you dont mind about calories then this is the great dish. Wonder why tasty foods are always not good for health?. I dont mind making this dish once in a while, more over I am gonna eat only little (dont ask me how much is that little). This creamy sauce is best served over any pasta shapes like spaghetti, fettuccine, cappellini or linguine pastas. I used angle hair b'coz no big secret that's what I had in my pantry. To make this dish more creamier I used heavy whip cream and if you feel its too much creamier you can go ahead and use only milk. This sauce can be made with any variation of your choice which contribute to your consistent and taste.

Ingredients

Chicken Breast - 2 halves
Italian flavoured breadcrumbs - 1/2 cup
Angle hair - 1/2 lb
Olive oil - 2tsp
Butter - 1 tbsp
Garlic - 5 cloves minced
Onion - 1 chopped
Chicken Bouillon cubes - 2 crumbled
Heavy whipped cream - 1/2 cup
Milk - 1 cup
Water - 1/2 cup
Dried parsley - 1/2 tsp
Parmesan cheese - 1/2 cup
Salt and pepper to taste

Method
Cook the pasta according to the direction on package, drain. Mix breadcrumbs, 2tsp parmesan cheese, pepper powder in a wide bowl or plate. Coat the chicken breast with the breadcrumbs on both the side and set aside.
Heat oil in a pan and add 2 tsp of garlic and add the chicken and cook on a simmer flame until chicken is well cooked. Remove chicken from the pan and cool and slice diagonally into long strips.
Reheat the oil in the pan with butter and add remaining garlic and onion and saute until onion is soft. Add the chicken bouillon and add water and bring to a boil and cook in simmer for 10 mins. Add milk and cheese and cook for 5 more mins.
Place the cooked pasta on the plate, layer the chicken over the pasta and pour the sauce on top of the chicken. Garnish with fresh or dired parsley. Serve hot. I served with asian green beans salad - look for this recipe in my previous post.

Back After a Long Break with a recipe - "Chicken Bharta"

At last I am back on my blog after a long break:-). I had to spend time with my son during his summer vacation and now he is back to school but.. still my one year old daughter takes all my time:-(. I blame myself for not managing the time. So I'll try to update my blog whenever I find time.

My recipe today is "chicken Bharta" , this is the new recipe I actually tried this for the first time and no doubt it came out really good. Surprisingly this dish is quite easy to prepare. This is a recipe where finely chopped chicken is cooked with onion , tomato and other spices and here is the recipe of chicken Bharta.

Ingredients:

Boneless Chicken thigh - 1lb ( finely chopped)

Finely Chopped Onion - 1

Finely Chopped tomato - 3 medium

Green Chilies - 2 slit

Ginger Garlic paste - 2tsp

Cloves - 3

Cardamom - 2

Cinnamon - 1"

Coriander Powder - 2tsp

Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Tandoori masala - 2 tsp (optional)

Cilantro chopped for garnishing

Oil - 4 tsp

Salt to taste

Method:

Heat oil in a non- stick pan and add clove, Cinnamon and cardamom then add chopped onion and saute for few mins and add the ginger garlic paste and mix . Now add chopped tomato and all the dry masala powders and give a good mix and close and cook for 5 mins. Now add the chicken and little water and close and cook for 10 to 15 mins or until chicken is well cooked and don't forget to stir in between. Garnish with cilantro. Server with chapati or even plain rice.

Chicken Biryani

This is my way of preparing this delicious chicken biryani. I used to cook this way for quite a long time. Everyone in my family and even my friends love this biryani. My brother used to call me as "biryani master" just b'coz of this biryani . I usually prepare this dish quite fast and preparing briyani has always been easy to me. When ever I decide to quit eating non-veg ,just the thought of this biryani does not allow me to. I am a very great lover of biryanis so atleast once in two weeks I would prepare this dish. Here is the recipe of the delicious chicken biryani . I am drooling now.

Ingredients:

To marinate (for half an hour)

Whole cut Chicken - 1lb

Yogurt - 1 cup

Chili Powder - 1tsp

Coriander Powder - 2 tsp

Cilantro Chopped - 1/2 cup

Mint Chopped - 1/2 Cup

Lime juice - 1 tsp

Salt - little

Other Ingredients:

Basmati Rice - 2 cups

Onion Chopped - 1 big

Tomato chopped - 2 medium

Green Chilies Slit - 3

Bay Leaves -3

Cardamom - 2

Clove - 3

Cinnamon - 1/2''

Oil - 5 tsp

Salt as required

To Grind:

Garlic - 10 cloves

Ginger - 2"

Clove - 5
Cinnamon - 1''

Onion chopped - 1/2

Procedure:

Wash and soak the basmati rice for 10 mins. In a cooker heat oil and add the bay leaf,Cinnamon,cardamom and clove. When you get the nice fragrance add the onion and green chilies and saute for 5 mins. Add the the grinded paste and saute well. Add the tomatoes and mix for 3 mins. Now add the marinated chicken and give a good mix. Add salt Cook in slow flame until the oil seprates. Add water, for 1 cup rice I added 1&1/2 cup of water. When the water boils add rice and close the cooker and cook for 10 mins. Serve with onion raita and chicken gravy.

Hyderabadi Chicken Briyani

There are lots and lots of ways to make briyani . In tamilnadu they use jeera rice to make Bryan's and it has different flavour and taste. I myself make briyani in 3 different ways. Hyderabadi briyani is the most popular and one of the best . Hyderabadi briyani is one of the tourist attractions of Hyderabad. This is cooked in layers of chicken and rice on dum - its a slow steam cooking. This is usually accompanied with onion raitha

Ingredients:

Whole Chicken cut - 1lb

Basmati rice - 2 cups

Whole garam masala ( cardamom -2 Cinnamon , clove - 5, bay leave -3)

Shahi Jeera or black cumin - 1tsp

Ginger Garlic paste - 3 tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp

Yogurt - 1/2 cup

Green chilis slit - 4

Briyani masala - 5 tsp ( use shan briyani masala)

Cilantro chopped - 1cup

Mint chopped - 1/2 cup

Oil - 3 tsp

Salt as required

Fried Onion - 1/2 cup

Procedure:

Wash and soak rice for nearly 45 mins. Marinate the chicken with all the ingredients for half an hour except fried onion and reserve half cup of cilantro . Boil water with little shahi jeera and 1 tsp of oil and salt.When water boils add soaked rice and cook until 80% done and drain the water. In a non stick pan add the marinated chicken and cook in medium heat for 10 to 15 mins. Pre heat oven at 375* F . Transfer the chicken into oven safe pan and top it with fried onions , and top of that add rice as a layer. Mix red food colour with 2 tsp of water and spoon it on top of the rice . Garnish with reserved cilantro on top of rice and close with an aluminium foil and bake for 30 mins. Serve with onion raitha. Enjoy hot!!!

Chicken Nuggets

This is really a kids favorite. This is conveniently available ready made and ready cooked in many fast foods but nothing like making one by our self with love for our kids and if you are more concerned about the preservatives this home made chicken nugget is the best as you know what it has in it. So here is the recipe for chicken nuggets.

Ingredients:

Boneless chicken breast - 1/2 lb

Egg - 1

All purpose flour - 1tsp

Pepper Powder - 1/2 tsp

Salt as required

Bread crumbs

Oil to fry

Procedure:

Cut the chicken to small piece as you like. Beat the egg in a bowl and add flour , pepper and salt and mix well. Keep the bread crumbs in a plate , you can use either plain one or flavoured bread crumbs. Dip the chicken pieces one by one in the egg mix and mix it in the bread crumbs so it is coated well and shake off the excess bread crumbs and keep aside for 5 mins. Heat oil in a frying pan and deep fry the chicken pieces until it turns golden brown and remove to a kitchen paper towel to remove excess oil and serve with ketchup. Enjoy!!

Chicken Curry

After a lot of indo-chinese recipe here is an awesome South Indian style chicken curry recipe. I learned this dish from my sister who lives in Nagercoil. The combination of coconut , cashew and poppy seeds gives a rich taste to this dish. This dish doesn't fall into simple chicken curry category, you can name it chicken korma, or even salna as you like. There are probably hundreds of different chicken curry recipes available but each takes the basic chicken curry and enhances it according to the taste. Try my version of this rich aromatic chicken curry. Good recipes are always meant to be shared ....

Ingredients:

Chicken pieces - 1lb

Coconut - 1cup

Cashew - 2tsp

Poppy Seeds - 1tsp

Fennel seed - 1tsp

Cinnamon - 1" stick

Cloves - 5

Ginger - 2"

Garlic - 6 Cloves

Coriander Powder - 2tsp

Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp

Sambar Powder - 1tsp

Turmeric Powder - 1/2 tsp

Onion chopped - 1 medium

Tomato chopped - 1 medium

Mustard and curry leaves for seasoning

Salt to taste

oil

Procedure:

Soak the poppy seed and cashew nut in hot water for 10 mins. Dry roast fennel seed , Cinnamon , cloves and set aside. With little oil fry garlic, ginger and coconut for few mins and grind to a paste along with dry roasted Cinnamon,clove and cashew and poppy seeds. In a cooker pour oil and season it with mustard and curry leaves. Add onion and saute it till onion turns brown. Add tomato and give a good mix. Now add all the powders , if needed sprinkle little water . Add chicken to it keep mixing for few mins and add the grinded paste with little water . Now close the cooker and pressure cook for 10 mins. Garnish with cilantro . Serve with rice, idli dosa.